Sewer-cleaning apparatus



W. H. STEWART.

SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man JAN. 9,1919.

1,344,249. Patented June 22, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.52 6. Irivehof W. H. STEWART.

SEWER CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPucATxoN man JAN. 8,1919.

Patented J une 22, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Zveizo' y WM u.. M

WILLIAM H. STEWART, OE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SEWER-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed January 8, 1919. Serial No. 270,227.

Numbers 708,807, dated Aug. 30, 1904 and.

003,022, dated Nov. 3, 1908 granted to me and is designed to be an improvement on said apparatus. ,f

It is found, in cleaning sewers with buckets of the above described type, which are adapted to be drawn through the sewer to remove the sediment that gradually ac cumulates at the bottom thereof, that, while the top layers of the deposit are fairlyy soft and may be removed by the bucket with comparative euse, the lower layers have become dry and hard and their removal by the bucket presents considerable difiiculty as the cutting edge or' the bucket makes but little impression on the hard and, practically speaking, petrified deposit o't sediment.

An object of my invention is in the provision of means .whereby this hard deposit may be rendered sufficiently soft to be cut by the cutting edge of thebucket and removed from the sewer by the bucket.

I accomplish this object of my invention in the provision of a bucket having a double wall with a space between said walls through which water is adapted to flow and issue with considerable torce at the cutting edge of the bucket. The issuing stream or sheet of water may have the general shape of the cutting edge of the bucket and serves to meisten and kthereby soften the hard layers of deposit in the sewer whereby they may be removed by the bucket; and the stream of water as -it issues vfrom the bucket may have such force as to detach the sediment from the walls of the sewer whereby it may be gathered by the bucket and removed from the sewer.V

It often happens that the buckets become illed `as they are drawn through the sewer and before they reach the discharge end and, with further movement of the bucket, such an amount of material may accumulate in front of the vbucket as to plug the sewer and prevent further movement of the bucket.

A further object of my invention is in the provision of a nozzle associated with a sewer cleaning bucket directed in the direction of movementoii. the bucket and from which water may be expelled with considerable force against such a plug or accumulation of sediment in front ofA the bucket to 'forcibly remove it and cause it to flow down the sewer and thereby permit the bucket to be moved along the sewer in its cleaning op-y eration. i y

A two wayvalve is employed, by means of which the nozzle and the double walled bucket may be alternately connected with a source of water supply, which valve may be under the control o'l an operative at a sewer manhole and is normally so arranged that water issues from the bucket around the cutting edge, and when the movement of the bucket is obstructed, or undue resistance to its motion is encountered, the water may be diverted through the nozzle to remove the debris or obstruction, after which the valve may be conditioned to cause the discharge of water around the cutting edge of the bucket.

In some instances I may prefer to automatically and periodically alternate the flow of water between the nozzle and the bucket and for such a purpose I associate a water driven turbine with the bucket which is arranged to control, through suitable reduction gearing, the two way valve, to reciprocate or otherwise operate the same for the 'automatic control of the jet of Water.

rig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the bucket along line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the double walls of the bucket.

Fig. 5 is a section along line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing the water control valve.

- Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the adjustable bucket described in my Patent No. 903,022 in which my invention is incorporated.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan detail of a modified bucket incorporating my invention and showing the automatic control of the water control valve.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail, in elevation, along lines 8 8 of Fig. 7.

As here shown, the bucket 10 is of more or less scoop shape, having a rounded bottom, and high side walls to retain the sediment CIK collected from the sewer. The bucket, at its upper' portion, is provided with pins 11 ex* tended from the side walls, or it may be one pin extended through the bucket with the ends thereof protruding, which pins are journaled in eyes 12 and 13 formed in the guard bars 14 and 15 of a cage of which said bars form a part and which incloses the bucket. Other guard bars or runners 16 and 17 of the cage are disposed on each side of the bucket at the lower portion thereof, and all or" said bars are extended to the front and rear oi said bucket and connected or formed into the eyes 18 and 19. into which cables or ropes 20 and 21 (see Fig. l) are adapted to. be connected to draw the bucket through the sewer between two manholes or openings therein.

rlhe bucket so far described is of more or less common construction and is as shown in my above named patents.

The bucket embodying my :invention may be Jormed with an outer wall 25 ot the above described shape, and rwith an inner wall 26 which is spaced a suitable distance from the outer wall tov provide a space 27 between said walls to form a conduit or passage for the flow of water therethrough to be discharged at the forward or cutting edge oi the bucket. The inner wall may extend as far as desi able over the inner surface of the outer wall of the bucket and at the cutting edge preferably extends over the entire curved portion ot the bucket whereby a stream ot water may be directed from the bucket along the entire cutting edge. The edges of the inner wall may be secured to the outer wall by any suitable means, as by welding, to form a water tight connection and a solid structure.

The water passage iormed between the outer and' inner walls ot the bucket extends from the front, or cutting, edge thereof to the rear end, and, preferably, said passage is of greater height, or the distance between the walls is greater, at the rear end of the bucket than at the cutting edge and tapers gradually from the rear to the cutting edge.` I rind `that good results are obtained if the distance between the two walls at the cutting edge is -lf and at the rear of' the bucket ig although these dimensions may obviously be varied on di Herent sizes of buckets.

Connection is adapted to be made .between the water passage 27 and a source of water supply and for this purpose the inner wall 2G is provided, at therear` end of the bucket, with a nipple 2S. the opening in which is in communication with said passage 27, and a valve casing is secured thereon by means ot the coupling 31 disposed on an extension 32 of the valve' casing 3.() and engaging the threads of said nipple.

Said valve. casing 30 is provided with a cyl-in h-ical portion 3.8 at substantially right angles to the extensionr32 and extended on each side of said extension and which has a water passage 34 therein which is directed along the axis of the bucket toward the front thereof. A nozzle 35 is arranged on the forward end of said portion 33 for the purpose of directing a jet of water, when desired, into the mass of material which may accumulate in front of the bucket. Said nozzle is preferably arranged in about the central axis of the bucket.

The rear end of said cylindrical portion 33- extends beyond the end ot the bucket and is provided with a connection by means oft which a hose 3.7 may be connected with said valve casing 30.

The valve comprises a tapered plug 4() of more or less common construction and fitting within the casing 30 and has a passage 41 extended dilametrically therethrough which, when the plug is so rotated that said passage il is placed in alinement with the passage 34, permits water to iow directly from the hose 37 to and through said nozzle 35, and a second passage 42 therein at right angles to said passage 41, thereby forming a two-way cock or valve which, when said plug `is so rotated as to cause passage d2 to be in communication with passage 34. in the direction from the hose 37, permits water to low through the assage 27 between the double walls of the bucket and issue from the cutting edge thereof and prevents flow of water to said nozzle 35.

Said valve may be and is normally so set as to permit water to issue from the bucket at the cutting edge thereof and prevent a flow of water .from said nozzle 35 and a coil spring 45 encircling the extended hub of said valve and engaging the arm or lever 46 secured to said valve plug 40 and a part ofthe 'valve casing 30 normally serves to maintain said valve plug in the desired position, in which position it may be held against a suitable stop, not shown.

Said valve is adapted to be controlled from the surface while said'bucket is in the sewer and for this purpose a cord 50 is connected` to said arm or lever 4G ot the valve and extends` from the bucket through the sewer and out through a manhole. By pulling said. cord, the valve may be movedso as to direct the iow of" water from around the cutting edge of the bucket througlfi the nozzle 35 to remove any debris collected in front of the bucket and, as soon as the tension on the cord is relaxed, the spring 45 serves to return the valve to its original position and permit water to again flow around the cutting edge of the bucket.

The valveis inclosed in a casing 'formed of the front wall 5l, rear wall 52V and top wall 534 withthe side walls ot" the bucket forming` the side walls oi the casing to there by protect the valve and permit its operation unobstructed by the accumulation collect/ed by the bucket from the sewer, and

openings are formed in the front and rear walls ol said casing for the nozzle 35 and for the connection Lwith the hose 37 and to permit the passage of the cord therethrough.

In Fig. G the invention is shown as applied to an adjustable bucket such as described in my Patent No. 903,022, in which the arrangement is similar to that above described with the exception that the 'liront and rear walls of the valve inclosing casing are formed of two complementary portions, as 51 and 51h: and 52 and 52h, which are in sliding engagement to permit the necessary relative movement between the top and bottom parts of the bucket and maintain the casing substantially tight as against the entrance of solid matter.

In operation, the bucket is` adapted tobe pulled through a sewer in the manner shown in Fig. l in which the control ropes 20 and 21 are connected to Winches located at manholes opening into the sewer, by which means the movement of the bucket along the sewer may be controlled. The hose 37 extends from the bucket through the rear manhole and is connected with some source of water supply at preferably considerable pressure, as a hydrant, not shown, and the flow of water therethrough may be controlled by the hydrant, or other, valve. Said hose is adapted to be paid into the sewer as the bucket is moved forward therein and, normally, the valve on the bucket is so adjusted that a jet of water is permitted to issue from the bucket around the cutting edge to thereby soften the hardened layers ot' sediment and facilitate the removal thereof. The valve control cord 5() is extended trom the bucket through the rear manhole and is paid into the sewer as the bucket is moved forward.

When undue resistance to the forward movement of the bucket is encountered, which may be due to the accumulation of debris in front of the bucket, the valve cord 50 may be pulled, thereby adjusting said valve to direct water through the discharge nozzle 85, which water by its force serves to remove the accumulation and permit further movement of the bucket. So long as the accumulation oi debris persists, the cord 50 may be maintained taut and when it has been cleared away by the jet of water, the tension on the valve cord may be relaxed and the spring 45 automatically returns the valve to its normal position to permit the further discharge of water around the cutting edge of the bucket.

In the modilied form of bucket, details ot' which are shown in Figs. 7 and 8, mechanism is provided for the automatic and eriodic operation ot the control valve. 'lphe control mechanism vis inclosed in the compartment 8O of the casing and includes a water driven turbine 8l, which receives its` driving fluid from the branch pipe 82 tapped into theY main pipe. The turbine is adapted to, rotate atk a comparatively high speed,

which speed is considerably greater than that at which it is desired to operate the control valve to` provide for the sufficient duration of flow oi water alternating from either the nozzle or the bucket and therefore a suitable reduction gearing is cmployed which may comprise the worm S?,- iixed to the turbine shait which drives the worm gear 84 fixed to the sha ft 85 journalcd in the bucket. A small gear S6 is fixed to said sha ift which drives the loose gear 8T on the shaft 8,8 which drives through a small integral gear 89 a gear 9() on shaft 85 which through a small integral gear 91 drives the large gear 92 fixed to shaft 8S thereby rotating said shaft at a slow speed as compared with the speed of rotation of the turbine shaft.

Shaft SS has a cam 93 fixed thereto which serves to govern the lever 94tpivoted at 95 to the bucket and which is provided with a gear sector 96 in mesh with a pinion 97 on' the valve shaft, the arrangement being such that the relatively small angular movement of the lever, due to movement of the cam, is multiplied into a. sufficiently great angular movement of the valve, for its proper control of the How of water.

The cam is adapted to be of such a shape that a relatively quick shifting of the valve between its two positions with a suliiciently long period of rest between its movement into one or the other of such positions.

The period of flow of water from either orifice may be regulated by properly7 choosing the reduction gearing` 'as is obvious.

I claim:

l. A sewer cleaning bucket having a curved forward cutting edge, and means to direct a stream of water conforming to the cutting edge from said cutting edge of the bucket.

2. A sewer cleaning bucket comprising an outer wall having a cutting edge, an inner wall spaced fromsaid outer Wall and walls extending adjacent the cutting edge of the bucket, the space between said walls forming a passage for the flow of water to the cutting edge, and a connection for the supply of water to said passage.

3.In a sewer cleaning bucket having a cutting edge, a nozzle to direct a stream of water from'the bucket adjacent the cutting edge, a second nozzle carried by the bucket and directed toward the front of the bucket, and means to alternately connect said nozzles with a source of water supply.

4. A sewer cleaning bucket having an outer Wall, an inner wall spaced from the outer Well und extended from the rear of the buvket to adjacent the ci'itting edge, the Space between said Wells Aforming u. conduit for the flow of Water from said bucket, u. nozzle carried by seid bucket directed to discharge Walter toward tlie front of the bucket, und u vulve disposed ut the rear ot the `bucket und urrzuiged to alternately connect seid nozzle und conduit with :L source of wnter supply.

In n, sewer cleaning bucket having :t cutting,r edge, n4 nozzle to direct :i etremn oi. water Mfrom the bucket adjzu'ient the cutting edge, :L nozzle carried by the bucket nrrunged to direct u stream of Waiter toward the iront of the bucket, and menne to unto-A niaticelly und alternately connect Suid nozzlcs with e source oi.' Water supply.

G. In -u sewer cleaning bucket buying e cutting edge, u nozzle to direct u stream of walter 'from the bucket adjacent the cutting edge, u nozzle carried by the bucket arranged to direct a streeln of water toward the front of the bucket, means controlling the flow of water through seid nozzles und means to autonmtically direct u flow `of 'eter :ilternutely through said nozzles.

7. In :i sewer cleaning bucket having u cutting` edge, u nozzle to direct :L Stream of Waiter from the bucket adjacent the cutting edge, n. nozzle carried by the bucket er ranged to direct o. strefnn o'li Water toward the Yl'ront o'l the bucket, Ineens controlling the llow of Water through Suid nozzles, and e water turbine to actu-,tte Suid controlling lneens to nuton'mticnlly direct n. flow of Waiter alternately thi-(nigh said nozzles.

vln testimony whereof, I have signed my naine to this specification, in the presence ol' two. eubseribine- Witnesses.

VILLIAM H STEVART litnesses T; T. GREENWOOD, H. B. DAVIS. 

